Hose-coupling



E. A. RUSSELL AND S.P. HARRIMAN.

` HOSE COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED APR.10, 1919.

Famed July 13, 1920.

QimW//f UNITED sTATss PATENT oFFICE.

EDWARD A. RUSSELL .AND SEELYETP. HARRIMN, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS,BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO ROTIEI MANU'FCTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS, lA CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS. Y

HOSE-COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 13, 1920.

Original application filedl January 24, 1916, Serial No. 73,885. Dividedand this application filed'April To all 'whom t may concern.'

Be it known that we, EDWARD A. RUSSELL and iii-mirra l. iluminan,citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county ofCook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and-usefulImprovements in Hose-Couplings of which the following is aspecification.

Our invention relates to hose couplings, particularly to couplings forconnecting the hoseV or equivalent elements in the steam train lines onrailway cars.

The rinci Jal ob'ect of the 'nvention is P l l 1 to provide a hosecoupling, of simple construction and of the straight port type, suitablefor use in this connection, by means of which the coupling anduncoupling operations may be effected without the rocking movement ofthe coupler elements characteristic of vthe Sewall or gravity type ofcouplers, suoli rocking movements being objectionable becausenecessitating a bending of the hose, and also because, by rocking thecoupler elements with the gaskets in contact, the engaging faces of thelatter lare likely' to be crushed, frayed, or otherwise injured. i Y

A. further object of the invention is to provide a coupler soconstructed that theV gaskets will be brought into close and accuratecontact lwith each rother to provide a steam tight joint even when oneor both' of the gaskets have shrunk or, for other reasons, are shorterthan they are intended to be.

fr further object is to provide a coupling in which the gaskets` may beseparated when desired lto permit the discharge of water of condensationfrom the train line without requiring the couplers themselves to bedisconnected, one from lthe other.

A further object is to provide a coupler having the characteristicsabove noted, which can be mated with any of the standard gravitystraight port couplers 'now in use on railroads, couplers of this classbeing all much alike but differing in certain respects'as to details ofconstruction.

A further object is to provide a coupler adapted to be positively lockedwith the mating coupler element without the employment of any of thespecial locks'such as are now in use on many steam train pi po couiplers.

Serial No. 288,903.

The invention consists of the noveland improx-"ed constructions,arrangements and devices, to be hereinafter described and claimed, forcarrying out the above stated objects, and suoli other objects as willappear from the following description.

This application is a division of our c0- pending application, SerialNo. 73,885, filed January 24, 1916.

Our invention is illustrated in a certain preferred embodiment in theaccompanying drawings, wherein i Figurel 1 is a side elevational view ofa coupler embodyingour invention. l

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan `view of the two coupler heads, showing themin the position they assume just before being brought into coupledrelationship; and i Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken alongthe line of Fig. 2. 1

Like vcharacters of reference designate like parts in the severalligures of the drawings. Y i

ris the two elements of the coupler are exactly alike, we will describethe left-hand element by the use of reference numerals, with theunderstanding that the corresponding parts of the other element areindicated on the drawing by corresponding numerals distinguished by theexponent letter Lca.

The -coupling member or head 10 is formed preferably with the usualprojecting locking arm 11 provided with an undercut cam lug 12. On theother side of the coupling member is an undercut cam lug 13. These lugs,or as they may be called, gravity cams, engage with' the correspondingcam lugs on themating coupler arm 11a. Preferably-the coupling membersare provided with means whereby they will be held in proper alinementbefore the gaskets are moved into contact with each other, andsubsequently as against any tendency there may be for the members torock 'on their cams when force is applied to the gasket holding orconduit members for the purpose of Vbringing the gaskets together. Viththese ends in view, the undercut groove 14 in the arm 11 is closed atthe bottom as indicated at 14', forming a stop for the interlocking lugA13a of the mating coupler member. This prevents the coupling membersfrom being rocked when the Vgaskets are pressed together so as toproduce a gap between the gaskets at the top; such tendencyy ,beingl duetothe arrangement ol?L the locking Vlug centers below the axis ofthegaskets. The lug 13 is -ormed on the top with a projection 13 and thearm 11a of the other coupler member is provided With a stud 15 whichbears against this projection. f lhis arrangement prevents the weight'0f thswuplias members freni precludes a gap between the gaskets at thebottoml and holds the coupling members in alinement with each otherbefore the gasketsare in @Oste-@1 The arrangement alsepermits theComplimenti?, Q1; either Coupling member with any stand-and coupler headO, thel gltwlty type @he `feessie for" ormingfthe lue With theureiectiou inst-@edf Of placingthestiitl 1:5? leerer is t0 perm-it thecon PhDs-1119: Q; `Ptlll? Cuplng meinberfwith any standard coupler headoff thegravitytype.- 1.11 sushi Casesthe stud; Clearsthe lockns bietettbematiiris head.

The-coupling member 1() is hollow, being vfior-"ined withajcylizlClFical bore 1,6, the bore being enlargedat the coupling end toform a shoulder 17 against whiclithei lieadiof` the gasketlielder L84;may Vabut when the ygasket hol-der is inthe, innermostl positinin Thegasket holder or conduit member 1.8, is cylindrical and projects throughthev coupling member 1i): antlis'preterably threaded at 19 toBeeeigvei-the usual; hose nipple. Commencing lat theend; ot the threads,19VA the gasket holder 18 is preferably provided with a pliif.

rality, oiigsogineiihatcoarse threads 20 with whichl thelfvnnt or.actuating member 21, is engagedl its.: clear-15e shown iny Fig. 3, The

actuatn member 2-lf1sr0tatab-ly connected;

to the, coupling vinem-berv 150 lay-ineens of a plurality oi'elongitudinally:projecting fin?- gers oristuds 22ywlni-cht extend outover the, u

coupling member 10, theiendsl of the studs being-bent Osea atsubstantially'right angles and-projecting intol a groove 23-i01med in,theGPllfilfal-` werben-l0. F01: convenience in turningthe actuatingmember-2,1 may be proyided with handle, 9A, Ehe torward end of thegasketv holder is formed with a.V

semicircular ,flange- 25, andv isi termed intererly, with a eroe-re Zftereceive the gasket 27. Theigalsketis held in Vplace intheVket.helder,steify all; normal positions of the latter .by @Verhngnislue; 28. on the member L01 The gasket. helder is provided WithialugQQ;which entends lbei'iieeii guide ribs, 3Q: Q11 the inner sunfgace ot thelecitiiig-V arm ll; toi prevent -rotatloni mirth@ gasket holder. 'a

Operation- Y The i tno coupling Y `members are brought together iii-themanner `'shown in Eis- 2, that 1s marlies there subisse.; withoiitrocking@untoward th-,eg otherg-,the

'gasket holders is., yand fl-Sffbenez, retracted,I

thatis, intheiir innermost positioii.V The-fact thatthe gasket holdersare retracted allows the locking arms 11 and 11a ofthe coupling membersteclear the corresponding locking" will then interlock what may `betermed-a preliminary interlocking engagement, which is brought about bygravity, the cams operating to center tlreifgasket hol-ding:-orcou- I,plingi members and holding them centered against accidentaldisplacement or Vagainst disturbances when therrgaskets are. forcedagainst each other. The coupling members are, held againstrocking ontheir cams bythe; studs 15;, 1.5a bearing onl the. projections 13 and13m. After the heads have been thus engagechthe gasket holders arepushed orwart, eaclain .the direction toward,Y the i other, by givingpartial rotation to. the actu- Y ating members. 214 and 21a-.1 Thegaskets more; along a line normalfto theirmeeting faces, sogthat thelatter 'come together squarely. There is; enough looseness be- ,tween`the gasket. holders and the. coiipliiiig vmembers and betweenthejgaskets and the gaskety holders sa that the, meeting acesot4 thegaskets. willi adjustthemselves to each other'regardilessopossibleslight inequalb ties `on the, castings forming thecouplingmembers. lgt-wilhbe seen-that: whenvthe coupling members yhavebeen preliminarily engagedthey willyhang in substantiallynoij-f Yiiialposi-tion and need notsbe Iheld bythe trainnianvw'hose hands are,tre-e1 toY operatel 1 ,the actuating members 21, 2121iV iny'tenkde,I

ency: othe actuating members,` when; `pressure:` is analice to rockthecoiiplineinen'iber-sion eachA other so as toprerent avtlat bearing.of'one.. gasket Von theifother, imzpairing;` the. tiglitnessfo theyjointand injuring,- i a the gaskets, is checked bythe. engagements ofthe shoulders letand; 1414?. with; thecams on which they: bear and bythe engagement of thestudsl,y ljwith the.. projections 13';j 132 "llhenthecongiling member is disengaged, the gasketmay be removed ir'om. thegasket holder bywiencing the; gasket :holder forwardly far enough sothatthe gasketwill cleanthe lug 28.` A Y 1 1 Y Vlhe parts areasseIn-bledastolloiis: The studs V222 oithe actuating member 21V are slippedl into,thegrooye` 23h75 the coupling memberk 10a brom, one` side and: theactuating member: brought into alinemen-t with the bore of the couplingmember. .The gasket holder` is thrust.' into theconpling memberandfthreaded through the actuating member Y 21. After the threads 261engage tl'ieactuat ingmember is: rotated; until the forward end .l ofthe gasket holder is flush with: the for-` i ward end of the lug 28. Agasket may then iso be placed in the 'holder and the actuating memberrotated to bring the gasket holder bach against the shoulderV 17 withthe lug 28 in the slot in the coupling member.

While we have described our invention in a preferred embodiment, it willbe understood that further modifications might be made without departureY trom the principles et the invention. ilheret'ore we do not wish to beunderstood as limiting the in vention to the particular constructions,ar rangements and devices shown andy described, except so tar as theclaims are expressly so limited.

We claim: y

l. A` hose coupler comprising in combination a coupling member and aconduit member movable longitudinally through the coupling member, thelatter being provided with means whereby it may be preliminar-ilyengaged with a mating coupler and held insubstantially normal alinementtherewith, and a device for producing rela tive longitudinal movementsbetween said coupling and conduit members to seat the lat-ter againstthe mating coupler comprising a rotatable element having a threadedconnection with one of said members and provided with means engaging theother olV said members.

Q. A hose coupler comprising in combination a coupling member and aconduit member movable longitudinally through the coupling member, thelatter being provided with means whereby it may be preliminarily engagedwith a mating coupler and held in substantially normal alinementtherewith, and a device tor providing relative longitudinal movementsbetween said coupling and conduit members to seat the latter against themating coupler comprising a rotatable element having a threadedconnection with the conduit member and provided with means `engaging thecoupling member.

il. A hose coupler comprising in combination a coupling member and aconduit member movable longitudinally through the couiiiling member, thelatter being provided with means whereby it may be preliminarily engagedwith a mating coupler and held in substantially normal alinementtherewith, and a device for producing relative longitudinal movementsbetween said couplingand conduit members to seat the lat- Vter againstthe mating coupler comprising a rotatable element having a threadedconnection with one of said members and provided with a finger engaginga groove in the other member.

A hose coupler comprising in combination a coupling member and aconduitmember movable longitudinally through the coupling member, thelatter being provided vith means whereby it may be preliminarily engagedwith a mating coupler and held in substantially normal alinementtherewith and a device for providing relative longitudinal movementsbetween said coupling and conduit members to seat the lat- 7e teragainst the mating coupler comprising a rotatable element having athreaded con nection with the conduit members and provided with a fingerengaging a groove in the coupling member.

5. A hose coupler comprising in combination a coupling' member and aconduit member movable longitudinally through the coupling member thelatter being provided with means whereby it Vunity be preliinina rilyengaged with a mating coupler, by lateral movement of said couplingmember .and other coupler without rocking the same,v and held Ainsubstantially normal alinement therewith, and a device 'for pros ducingrelative longitudinal movement between said coupling and conduit membersto seat the latter against the mating coupler comprising a rotatableelement having a threaded connection with one of said members andprovided with means engag- -ing the other of said members.-

6. A hose coupler comprising in combination a coupling member and aconduit member movable longitudinally through the coupling member, thelatter being provided with means whereby it may be preliniina-- rilyengaged with a mating coupler of the gravity or Sewell type and held insubstantially normal alinement therewith, and a device providingrelative, longitudinal movement between said coupling and conduitmembers to seat the latter against the mating coupler comprising arotatable element having a threaded connection with/ one ot said membersand provided with means engaging the other of said members.

7. A hose coupler comprising in combina tion a coupling member and aconduit member movable longitudinally through, the coupling member, thelatter being provided with means whereby it may be preliminarily engagedwith a mating coupler by lateral movement ot said coupling member andother coupler without rocking the same, and a device for producingrelative longitudinal movement between said coupling and conduit membersto seat the latter against the mating coupler, comprising a rotatableelement having a threaded connection with one ot said members andprovided with means engaging the other et said members.

8. A hose coupler comprising in combination a coupling member and aconduit member movable longitudinally through the coupling member, thelatter being provided with means whereby it may be pre liminarilyengaged with a mating coupler of the gravity or Sewall type by lat--eral movement of said coupling member end other Couplers- Withoutrocking: the

saune end-zt dev-iee forY producing; relati-Ve longitudinalmoveinent betww'feen said? couplingr and Conduit members to sea-t the laitterafg-einst the meting coupler comprising n rotatable element havingathreaded Connection with one of saidE members and provided with meansenga-ging thel other of seid mem bers.

9. hose coupler comprising in. combination e coupling member end n`conduit member A moif'eble longitudinally through the Coupling member,the latter Comprising at heed lnwi'ng a, curved undercut looking junilug on 'one` side thereof and' aan arm projectin?)x from the other Sidehaving :L oem to engage a looking.- ja'mlng onV thel mating con pler,means wherebythe coupling member may be. prelli-minn-rily engaged withI:L mating coupler and: held in substantially normail avlsinementtherewith, and a devieesfor proehieing relativelongiltudinel movementsbetween szndeouphng and eondnlt member tox Seat the latter against themeting couplerA With-means whereby itinay be"r prel'film-narily engaged'with u` meting eoup-ler and heldinsubstzintially normal alinementtherewith,4

and means fior seating the Conduitmember agail et the meting couplerlcompri-sing a thneeded`nnt7V thenio-vement of which producesarelativelongitudinalmovement be tween saileco'upling endl een-droitmembers.

t fEDV'AElD-A. RUSSELL.V

S'E'ELY'E l?. HARRIMAN.

